Contact: awest@thesphl.com
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (March 9, 2024) – The SPHL continues its 20th season with five games this evening. You can follow all the action this season at http://sphltv.com/
Roanoke @ Knoxville (7:35 p.m. EST, 6:35 p.m. CST)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (26-12-8, 60 pts, 3rd)
• Clinched a playoff berth.
• Matt O’Dea leads all defensemen with 37 points (7g, 30a), and his 30 assists are the most among blueliners.
• Xavier Filion is second among rookies with four game-winning goals.
• Brenden Pepe ranks third among defensemen with 30 points (9g, 21a). His 21 assists are tied for the fourth most among defensemen.
• Austyn Roudebush is sixth in the SPHL in goals against average (2.61) and save percentage (.905)
• Roanoke is 6-0-2 against Knoxville
Knoxville Ice Bears (16-26-4, 36 pts, 9th)
• Dawson McKinney leads the Ice Bears with 27 points (13g, 14a) and ranks ninth (tied) among rookies with his 27 points.
• Jason Price is 11th among defensemen with 15 points (0g, 15a)
• Tyler Rollo (5g, 15a) ranks 12th (tied) among rookies with 20 points.
• Knoxville is 2-5-1 against Roanoke
Evansville @ Huntsville (8:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CST)
Evansville Thunderbolts (18-25-3, 39 pts, 8th)
• Cole Ceci ranks fourth among goaltenders with a 2.48 gaa and .923 sv%; his 12 wins are the fifth most.
• Brendan Harrogate is fourth in the SPHL with 144 shots.
• Myles Abatte ranks 10th (tied) among rookies with 26 points (11g, 15a)
• Scott Kirton is also tied for 13th in the SPHL with 28 points (14g, 14a), his 14 goals lead the Thunderbolts.
• Evansville is 2-3-0 against Huntsville
Huntsville Havoc (24-16-7, 55 pts, 5th)
• Brian Wilson is seventh among SPHL goaltenders with a 2.68 gaa and a .905 save percentage.
• Wilson also ranks fourth in the SPHL with 728 saves.
• David Thomson is second (tied) with five game-winning goals.
• Alex Kielczewski is fourth among defensemen with 25 points (5g, 20a) while his 20 assists are also fourth among blueliners.
• Huntsville is 3-1-1 against Evansville.
Fayetteville @ Birmingham (8:05 p.m. EST, 7:05 p.m. CST)
Fayetteville Marksmen (25-16-5, 55 pts, 4th)
• Boyko ranks 11th in the SPHL with 37 points (18g, 19a) (tied)
• Grant Loven is fourth among rookies with 31 points (11g, 20a)
• Matt Araujo (5g, 18a) is tied for fifth among defensemen with 23 points.
• Kyle Soper (5g, 14a) is tied for 14th among rookies with 20 points
• Fayetteville is 17-1-2 when scoring first this season.
• Fayetteville is 2-3-0 against Birmingham.
Birmingham Bulls (31-9-7, 69 pts, 1st)
• Clinched a playoff berth.
• Hayden Stewart leads the SPHL in GAA (1.99), sv% (.931), wins (21), and is second in the league in shutouts (3).
• Nikita Kozyrev leads all rookies with 44 points (12g, 32a). His 32 assists are the most among rookies.
• Carson Rose ranks second in the SPHL with 51 points (24g, 27a)
• Drake Glover is tied for third in the SPHL with 48 points (26g, 22a). His 26 goals lead the SPHL.
• MacGregor Sinclair ranks sixth among rookies with 26 points (11g, 15a)
• The Bulls are 21-3-4 when they score first this season.
• Birmingham is 3-1-1 against Fayetteville.
Macon @ Quad City (8:10 p.m. EST, 7:10 p.m. CST)
Macon Mayhem (12-28-6, 30 Pts, 10th)
• Alex LaPlante (24g, 14a) ranks third among rookies with 38 points. His 24 goals lead all rookies.
• Michael McChesney is second overall with seven power-play goals and leads all rookies.
• McChesney also ranks seventh among rookies with 28 points (16g, 12a)
• Macon is 1-3-0 against Quad City.
Quad City Storm (27-19-0, 54 pts, 6th)
• Matt Ustaski had a 12-game point streak (21 pts) dating from December 15th – January 27th.
• Ustaski (27g, 26a) leads the SPHL with 53 points and his 27 goals are the most in the SPHL.
• Leif Mattson is fourth in the SPHL with 47 points (20g, 27a)
• Defenseman Dillion Fournier is third amongst all blueliners with 30 points (4g, 26a). His 26 assists are the second most among defensemen.
• Quad City is 3-1-0 against Macon
Pensacola @ Peoria (8:15 p.m. EST, 7:15 p.m. CST)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (21-21-3, 45 pts, 7th)
• Recently acquired Joseph Widmar is third in the SPHL with 48 points (14g, 34a)
• Widmar’s 34 assists are the most in the SPHL.
• Zac Herrmann ranks second among defensemen with eight goals and is seventh in points with 21 (8g, 13a)
• Garrett Milan is eighth (tied) with 40 points (11g, 29a). Milan’s 29 assists are the fifth most in the league
• Pensacola is 2-2-0 against Peoria
Peoria Rivermen (31-11-5, 67 pts, 2nd)
• Clinched a playoff berth.
• Nick Latinovich leads the SPHL with five shutouts.
• Zach Wilkie is second among defensemen with 33 points (7g, 26a), Both are second among blue liners.
• Alec Baer is fifth in the SPHL with 45 points (19g, 26a) (tied)
• Alec Hagaman is eighth with 41 points (22g, 19a)
• Coach’s son Tristian Trudel suits up for the Rivermen this season, becoming the first-ever father-son coaching and playing duo in SPHL history.
• Peoria is 21-4-2 when scoring first this season.
• Peoria is 2-2-0 against Pensacola.
